Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense paddles, present participle paddling, past tense, past participle paddled
1. countable noun
A paddle is a short pole with a wide flat part at one end or at both ends. You hold it in your hands and use it as anoar to move a small boat through water.
We might be able to push ourselves across with the paddle.
...a piece of driftwood which he used as a paddle.
Synonyms: oar, sweep, scull More Synonyms of paddle
2. verb
If you paddle a boat, you move it through water using a paddle.
...the skills you will use to paddle the canoe. [VERB noun]
...paddling around the South Pacific in a kayak. [VERB preposition/adverb]
Synonyms: row, pull, scull More Synonyms of paddle
3. verb
If you paddle, you walk or stand in shallow water, for example at the edge of the sea, for pleasure.
Wear sandals when you paddle. [VERB]
...a lovely little stream that you can paddle in. [VERB preposition]
Paddle is also a noun.
Ruth enjoyed her paddle.
More Synonyms of paddle
paddle in British English1
(ˈpædəl)
noun
1.
a short light oar with a flat blade at one or both ends, used without a rowlock to propel a canoe or small boat
2. Also called: float
a blade of a water wheel or paddle wheel
3.
a period of paddling
to go for a paddle upstream
4.
a.
a paddle wheel used to propel a boat
b.
(as modifier)
a paddle steamer
5.
the sliding panel in a lock or sluicegate that regulates the level or flow of water
6.
any of various instruments shaped like a paddle and used for beating, mixing, etc
7.
a table-tennis bat
8.
the flattened limb of a seal, turtle, or similar aquatic animal, specialized for swimming
verb
9.
to propel (a canoe, small boat, etc) with a paddle
10. paddle one's own canoe
11. (transitive)
to convey by paddling
we paddled him to the shore
12. (transitive)
to stir or mix with or as if with a paddle
13.
to row (a boat) steadily, esp (of a racing crew) to row firmly but not at full pressure
14. (intransitive)
(of steamships) to be propelled by paddle wheels
15. (intransitive)
to swim with short rapid strokes, like a dog
16. (transitive) US and Canadian informal
to spank
Derived forms
paddler (ˈpaddler)
noun
Word origin
C15: of unknown origin
paddle in British English2
(ˈpædəl)
verb(mainly intr)
1.
to walk or play barefoot in shallow water, mud, etc
2.
to dabble the fingers, hands, or feet in water
3.
to walk unsteadily, like a baby
4. (transitive) archaic
to fondle with the fingers
noun
5.
the act of paddling in water
Derived forms
paddler (ˈpaddler)
noun
Word origin
C16: of uncertain origin
paddle in American English1
(ˈpædəl)
noun
1.
a relatively short pole with a broad blade at one end or sometimes both ends, held in the hands and used to propel and steer a canoe, kayak, etc.
see also oar
2.
any of various implements shaped like this
; specif.,
a.
a metal tool for stirring iron in a furnace
b.
a small, flat, wooden instrument for working butter, stirring clay, etc.
c. US
a flat stick used for beating clothes in washing them by hand, as in a stream
d.
a flat, wooden stick for administering punishment by beating
e. US
a flat, rounded piece of wood with a short handle, used to hit a ball, as in table tennis
3.
any of the propelling boards in a water wheel or paddle wheel
verb intransitiveWord forms: ˈpaddled or ˈpaddling
4.
to propel a canoe, etc. by means of a paddle
verb transitive
5.
to propel (a canoe, etc.) by means of a paddle or paddles
6.
to punish by beating as with a paddle; spank
7.
to stir, work, etc. with a paddle
Idioms:
paddle one's own canoe
Derived forms
paddler (ˈpaddler)
noun
Word origin
ME padell, small spade < ?
paddle in American English2
(ˈpædəl)
verb intransitiveWord forms: ˈpaddled or ˈpaddling
1.
to move the hands or feet about in the water, as in playing; dabble